House



(No Model.)

J. S. WOODHOUSE. KNOTTER FOR GRAIN HARVESTING MACHINES.

Patented Aug. 6, 1889'.

f L MW W I WHZMW 4 j a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SENIOR VVOODHOUSE, OF AMBERLEY, CANTERBURY, NEW ZEALAND.

KNOTTER FOR GRA|N- HARVESTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,645, dated August6, 1889.

Application filed June 25, 1889- Serial No. 315,515- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SENIOR W001 HOUSE, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, and a resident of Amberley, provincial district ofCanterbury, in the Colony of New Zealand, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Knotters for Grain-Harvesting Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved knotter for twine-binding in reapingand harvesting machines.

My knotter consists of one piece or part only, which may be of steel orother metal or material of suitable hardness, its general form beingcylindrical, and having slots and grooves varied to suit difierentmachines, and it is operated in the same position relatively to theother parts of the machines as are the knotters now in vogue.

In the drawings, Figures 1 to 4 are side Views of my improved knotter,illustrating four stages in the formation of a knot. Fig. 5 is a frontend view of'the knotter.

The shaftA is provided at itsend with the one-part knotting cylinder orhead B, which extends at substantially a right angle from the saidshaft.

The knotter receives an intermittent rotary motion in one direction froma wheel in the usual manner; and hence I do not deem it necessary toshow the driving mechanism, as my invention does not relate thereto, butis applicable to any of the machines now in vogue.

The knotting-eylinder B is provided with a transverse opening or slot 1,preferably inclined somewhat to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder,and also with an inclined slot 2, opening from the top of the cylinderor the side toward its shaft into the opening 1 and inclined backward ina direction from the cylinder-point toward the heel. The two slots 1 and2' form a hook 3, carried by the point or toe 4 of theknotting-cylinder,which .hook lies beneath the overhanging lip 5,whichis above the slot 2 and back or in rear of the toe 4. I

6 6 are grooves formed in the outside faces of the solid toe 4 of thecylinder and extending from the ends of the opening 1 to the point ofthe toe. These grooves are by preference comparatively deep adjacent tothe ends of the opening 1, but becoming shallower and broader as theyapproach the point of the toe. The upper side of the toe 4 is bypreference sloping or curved downward toward its end, is nearly circularin cross-section, and tapers toward its point, though I do not considerthese features essential.

The operation of tying the knot may now be understood. In Fig. 1 theposition of the cord is shown just after the needle has encircled thegavel and delivered the cord to the grasper or holder, and before theknotter has begun to revolve the strandsmcof cord lying over theknotting-cylinder between the opening to the slot 2 and the shaft A.

' Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts after the knotter has made ahalf-revolution, the strands as being twisted or turned once around theshank of the cylinder. In Fig. 3 the knotter is shown as havingcompleted its revolution, coming back to the position shown in Fig. 1.During the latter half of the revolution the strands of cord between thecylinder and the grasper or cord-holder are caught under the overhanginglip 5 and forced into the slot 2, and, by reason of the inclinationthereof, into the opening 1 back of the hook 3. Vhile the cord is inthis position, it is severed by the cutter, and the ejector begins itsoperation in the usual manthe grooves 6, in which the end portions ofthe cord lie, makcs it very easy for the knot to slip off from thecylinder as the gavel is being ejected.

As described, the grooves 6, onat least the one on the side of thecylinder shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is preferably deeper and narrower atits inner or rear end than at the end near the point of the knotter. Thereason for this is to permit the portion of cord surrounding theknotting-eylinder to easily slip over the portions of the cord lying inthe deeper parts of the groove or grooves, but to'be retarded byfrictional engagement therewith as it approaches the end of the toe andthus tighten the knot.

The overhanging lip 5, extending, as it does, over the opening to theslot 2, insures that the cord, as it slips from the shank portion of thecylinder onto the toe, shall not slide into the slot, which wouldinterfere with the formation of the knot and the delivery of the gavel.

The knotter which I have described dispenses with the use of all pivotedor sliding parts, and thus reduces the liability of disarrangemcnt anduncertain action, while at the same time it performs its work witheertainty, precision, and ease.

Vhat I claim is- 1. A knotter consisting of a cylindrical bodyprojecting laterally from a revolving shaft an (1 having a transverseopening, and a slot extending from said opening in an inclined directionto the top edge, leaving a solid outer end having an inclined upperface, substantially as set forth.

2. A knotter consisting of a cylindrical body or head projectinglaterally from a revolving shaft, with a transverse opening through thebody thereof, and an inclined slot extending from the opening to the topedge, and having a solid end inclined at the top, with grooves at theopposite sides of the latter, substantially'as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. 4

JOHN SENIOR \VOODIIOUSE.

\Vitnesses:

.T. S. BARKER, G. P. KRAMER.

